Ushering in the new year, the Mississippi Delta Chinese Heritage Museum, housed at Charles W. Capps, Jr. Archives at Delta State, opened the “Year of the Dog” on Feb. 18 by honoring the Chinese men and women who made the Delta their homes.
In memory of the commitment to community engagement they instilled in their children, museum members collected and donated food, supplies and toys to the Cleveland Animal Shelter and Paw Prints Rescue.
“Each new year brings a renewed commitment to our community and region,” MDCHM Board President Gilroy Chow said. “This was our first opportunity to give back to the community that has supported us for so long, and we were pleased to do so.”
Thanks to the generosity of MDCHM’s membership, more than $500 in food, supplies and toys were made available to the local organizations.
Against the backdrop of a rapidly disappearing society and culture, the MDCHM promotes local heritage preservation by actively collecting oral histories, memorabilia, photographs and textile materials related to the history and story of the Mississippi Delta Chinese immigration and settlement. The resources developed from ongoing preservation projects will encourage an environment of understanding and appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity.
The museum opened in October of 2012 and is free and open to the public.
A complete index of materials currently held in the collection is forthcoming. Researchers are encouraged to contact the University Archives staff for appointments to view collections.
Those interested in contributing to the collection by donating family materials or by financially supporting the mission of the museum are asked to contact Emily Jones, university archivist, at ejones@deltastate.edu or by calling 662-846-4781.
